Archbishop Olav defends himself against Lunge and fru Inger
DN 10/577 · 5 June 1529 · Throndhjem
What the letter says
Archbishop Olav writes from Nidaros on 5 June 1529 to Bishop Olav in Bergen, who had asked him to let the conflict with Vincens Lunge and fru Ingerd rest until the king could judge it. The archbishop answers that the two have openly forced him to act against them through mockery, scorn and contempt, and that he will take revenge on them and no one else. He will be loyal to King Frederik and account for the revenues of their fiefs, he denies having taken the king's tax from Jämtland, and he has made sure that fru Ingerd's innocent children do not lose what is theirs. He will explain himself when he comes to Bergen.
The letter in modern English
Olav, by the grace of God Archbishop of Nidaros and legate of the Apostolic See. [in Latin] With brotherly and friendly greeting sent before and the most willing wish to do good. Dear lord and brother, we received your letter, and from it we have understood that you wish us to let the discord between Lord Vincens, fru Ingerd and us rest entirely until it can come to judgement before our dearest gracious lord or His Grace's council, etc. Almighty God knows that Lord Vincens and fru Ingerd have openly forced us to move against them [uncertain reading], through manifold mockery, scorn, enmity and contempt, which it would take far too long to write and tell. Therefore we intend to repay it on them and theirs, and on no others, rich or poor. To our dearest gracious lord King Frederik we will be loyal and faithful in every way, as befits us towards our lord and king. Whatever has come or may come into our hands that concerns His Grace, from the fiefs which Lord Vincens and fru Ingerd have held in fief from His Grace, shall always stand ready and be accounted for to His Royal Majesty. We have written this to our dearest gracious lord with our own messenger. Whoever has said of us that we have had our dearest gracious lord's tax of Jämtland collected has not told the truth about us.
Original text
Olauus dej gracia archiepiscopus Nidrosiensis et apostolice sedis legatusPremissa fraterna et amicabili salutacione cum promtissimo gratificandi affectu. kære herre broder finge vij eder sscriffuelsse aff hwilket wij haffue forstooth thet j begere ath vij ville aldeles lade then twedragt bestaa som her Vincencius frw Jngerd oc oss emellom er saa lenge thet motte komme j rette ind for voor kæreste nade herre eller hanss nades raad etc.
Background
Early in 1529 Archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson had seized the fiefs, farms and estates of Vincens Lunge and his mother-in-law fru Inger of Austrått (died 1555). Here he explains himself to Bishop Olav Torkelsson of Bergen, a colleague who stood closer to the royal power. That he distinguishes between fru Inger and her children suggests that he wished to avoid appearing to strike at the heirs of Nils Henriksson. The children were by now adult daughters, several of them married to Danish noblemen, and that may have made him cautious. The claim that he had taken the tax of Jämtland shows that the conflict also concerned who was to collect the king's revenues in the north. The letter shows how personal the conflict was: the archbishop uses words like mockery, scorn and contempt, and he promises revenge.
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)